Display device



Aug. 24 1926. I 1,597,284

' w. s. NORMAN DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 14". 192s s snmmg-sheetv 1 A,l. /0 l l "umm 75* u u up Ju l u 75 /L r l l v ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Aug. 24,1926. 1,597,284

' W. S. NORMAN DISPLAY DEVICE ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1926. l 1,597,284

' W. S. NORMAN DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 14. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 a d 6`40 gif/a 7.

1f/f .f5 i 46. .5'6`

a vJ5 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Aug. 24,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SHEPPARD NORMAN, 0F PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TOANTHONY CORNELIUS BREINER, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS. l

DISPLAY JDEVICE.`

Application filed December 14, 1923. Serial No. 680,745.

This invention relates to improvements in display stands and has for anobject the provision of a stand constructed of separate units which arecapable of being connected to rovide a single stand structure, with eachunit of sectional and interchangeable formation, wherebythe size andcharacter of the units may be regulated.

Another object ofthe invention is the provisionl of a stand of simpleandeconomical construction, whose size and character may be regulated tosuit various requirement-s and which will attractively display a maximumamount of goods in a minimum space.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includesthe following novelv features and details of construction, to behereinafter more fullydescrbed, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings e Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating two units ofthestand connected.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a perspective view ofone unit showing two transverse shelves thereof and twoindependentsupporting shelves included in the unit.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one `of the independentsupporting shelves. Figure 5 is a similar view of the cap which connectsthe units. Y e f Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective showing displayholders carried by theI stand. i e

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a modified forniof the invention. 4 i e Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevationV of`thelowerend of the upright and showing the manner of connecting thelatter to the base bar. Figure 9 is a fragmentary section showing themanner of connecting the cap to the Figure 10 is a fragmentary verticalsection showing the manner of connecting the shelves to the upright. e Y

y Figure 11 is a plan view of a blank from which the shelves are formed,y

Referring in detail to the drawings wherein like characters of`reference denote cor responding parts, the stand is shown as formed ofseparate units each of which is indicated generally at 10, These untsareof sectional formation, the `sections of which `are removably connectedand are interchangeable so that the number and character of the sectionsmay be regulated to regulate the size and character of the unit.

As shown in the drawings each section comprises an upright 11, whoselower end has secured thereto a transverse bar 12 which extends uponopposite sides of and provides stability for the unit. The upright 11and the bar 12 are joined by a dovetailed connection 13. i y

Extending from the upright 11 `is a plurality of relatively narrowhorizontally arranged shelves 14 which carry at their outerendsdownwardly extending uprights '15the latter engaging the nextadjacent shelf. The shelves 14 are of different lengths and eX- tend onebeyond the other instep-like formation andare provided with spacedopening 16` for the reception of dowel-pins 17 which extend from theuprights 15. The openings 16 are so spaced that a shelf of any desiredlength may be supported with its dowel-pin engaging one of the openings.The inner ends of the shelves 14 are provided with tongues `18 which areremovably received within grooves 19, the tongues and grooves being soshaped as to provide a dovetailed connection` l e The top of the upright11 is provided with spaced openings or sockets 2O which receive pins 21extending from a single cap 22 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, orpins 21n which extend from a cap 23, illustrated `in Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings. This last mentioned cap is designed to connect two or moreunits 10 and for this purpose is pro vided with spaced pairs of pins 21awhich e engage the` sockets 21 of each connected unit soas to provide asingle stand structure.

To further connect the units and tof pro- .vide additional displaysurfaces there is provided removable shelves 24 which `rest upon theshelves 14 and connect the units, the said shelves 24 being notched asshown at 25 to engage the edges of the supports 15.

Transverse shelves 26` may also be supported upon the shelves'` 14 asshown in Figure, the said shelves 26 being notched as shown at 27' toreceive the uprights 1 5 so 'that' these shelves will be held againstaccidental displacement.

Independent supporting shelves 28 may also be provided. These shelvesare shown lil) in Figure 3 of the drawings and are interchangeable withthe shelves 14 and for this purpose are provided with tongues 29 whichare removably received within the grooves 19. The shelves 2S areprovided with webs or ribs 30 whose ends engage the face of the upright11 so as to support the shelves in proper position.

. In Figure 6 of the drawings there is provided display holders 31 and32. The display holder 31 is preferably formed of a single length ofmaterial bent to provide spaced standards 33, whose lower ends areremovablyfpositioned within the openings or-sockets 2O provided in thetop of the upright 11. Extending from the uprights 33 are spaced doublesubstantially S-shaped portions 34 which are connected at their outerends .and which serve as a holder for a roll of wall paper or the likeas indicated by the dotted lines at 35 in Figure 6.

The holder 32 is substantially T-shaped and includes an upright orstandardv 36 whose lower Vend is removably positioned within an openingor socket 3? at the outer end. of any of the shelves 14. The outer endsof the oppositely extending arms 38 of the T-shaped member are providedwith spring retaining means 39 for engagement with various articles tobe displayed.

In Figures 7 to 11 there is illustrated a modified form of the inventionin which the display device is formed of sheet metal. This form includesan upright 40 which is channel-shaped in cross section so as to providereinforcing or strengthening flanges 41. The top of the upright 40 isbent over to provide a flange 42 which is provided with spaced openings43, the latter being designed to receive lugs or pins44 which' extenddownwardly from a cap 45. This cap as well as the upright 40 may beformed of sheet metal and pressed or bent into shape.

The .shelves of the -device which are indicated at 46 are alsopreferably formed of sheet metal and are shaped to provide the blank`shown in Figure 11. VThe blank is notched as shown at 47 andbentlongitudinallyalongthe Vdotted lines 48 to provide longitudinalstrengthening or reinforcing flanges 49 which extend along the edges ofthe shelf and vertically disposed strengthening or'reinforcing flanges50 which extend along the edges of the upright 51 at the outer end ofthe shelf. The lower end of the upright is provided witha tongue 52which is adapted toenter an opening 53 provided in an adjacent shelf,these openings being spaced toV acconnnodateishelves of differentlengths. 'The' inner end of the shelf is pro- Y lvidedwith a centraltongue 54 and tongues 55 upon opposite sides thereof, the last mentionedtongues being relatively short. The tongues 54 and 55 are insertedthrough .spaced openings 56 provided in the upright 4() and the longtongue 54 is bent as shown in Figure 10 so as to retain the shelf inplace. j

The bottom of the upright 40 is provided with a transversely arrangedbase bar 57 which may also be formed of sheet metal, while stamped fromor otherwise formed upon the bar 57 are tongues 53 which pass throughopenings 59 provided in the upright 40 adjacent the bottom of thelatter.

If desired, shelves or brackets similar to the ones shown in Figure 4 ofthe drawings may be made from sheet metal, the means of connection withthe upright 40 being the same as that used for connecting the shelves46. Also, transverse shelvesy similar to the shelves 26 may be formed ofsheet metal.

The invention is susceptible of various other changes in its form,proportions and minor details of construction and the right is hereinreserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of theappended claims. l

Having described the invention wnat is claimed is 1. A display standcomprising a transversely channel-shaped upright, a plurality ofsuperimposed shelves of different lengths extending from the upright,one beyond the other in step like formation, said shelves also beingtransversely channel-shapedV and carrying at their outer ends achannelshaped support Afor contact with adjacent shelves, means forremovably7 securing the inner ends of the shelves to thev upright andmeans carried by the channel-shaped supports at the outer ends of theshelves to removably hold the latter in position.

2. A display stand comprising a transversely channel-shaped uprighthaving openings therein, a plurality of superimposed shelves of dierentlengths extending from the upright one beyond the other in steplikeformation and also having openings therein. .sain shelves also beingtransversely `channel-.shaped and carrying 'at' their outer ends achannel-shaped support for contact withr adjacent shelves, spacedtongues extending from the inner ends of the shelves for passage throughthe openings of the upright, one of said tongues being of relatively.

great length and bent to engage the Vadjacent face of the upright and atongue extending from the channel-shaped support at Vfthe outer ends ofthe shelves for passage through the opening provided in the latter.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

j witnAM SHEPPARDv NORMAN.

